Rebels in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta have gone on the offensive despite attempts to hold a “humanitarian pause”, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Tuesday. “During the ‘humanitarian pause’ fighters from armed groups continued attacking the positions of the Government forces in the areas of Hazrama and Nashabia settlements and after 1 pm went on the offensive in other directions too,” the ministry said in a statement. “These actions were accompanied by intensive artillery fire and small arms fire.”